« | Lamentations 4 | » |
1 How dark the gold has become! How the pure gold has changed! The stones from the house of God are poured out at the corner of every street.
2 The sons of Zion are worth their weight in fine gold. But they are thought of as clay pots, the work of a pot-maker's hands!
3 Even wild dogs give their breast to feed their young, but my people show no pity. They are like ostriches in the desert.
4 The baby's tongue sticks to the roof of its mouth because of thirst. The children beg for bread, but no one gives it to them.
5 Those who ate fine foods are dying in the streets. Those who were brought up dressed in purple now lie in ashes.
6 For the sin of the daughter of my people is worse than the sin of Sodom, which was destroyed all at once without a hand turned to help her.
7 Her religious leaders were more pure than snow. They were more white than milk. Their bodies were more red than coral. They were more beautiful than sapphire.
8 Now they look more black than dark ashes. No one knows who they are in the streets. Their skin has dried up on their bones. It has become as dry as wood.
9 Those who are killed with the sword are better off than those killed with hunger. For they waste away, suffering because they have no fruits of the field.
10 Women who had shown loving-kindness have boiled their own children for food, because my people are destroyed.
11 The Lord has acted in His anger. He has poured out His burning anger, and has set a fire in Zion which has burned it to the ground.
12 The kings of the earth and all the people of the world did not believe that those who hated them could come into the gates of Jerusalem.
13 This was because of the sins of her men who spoke in God's name, and the sins of her religious leaders, who killed those within her who were right and good.
14 They walked as blind men through the streets. They were made unclean with blood so that no one could touch their clothing.
15 People cried to them, "Go away! You are unclean! Leave! Go away! Do not touch!" So they ran away and traveled from place to place. Men among the nations said, "They must not stay with us any longer."
16 The Lord Himself has sent them everywhere. He will not care about them any more. They did not honor the religious leaders or favor the leaders of the people.
17 Our eyes have become weak in looking for help that did not come. In our watching we have waited for a nation that was not able to save us.
18 They kept following after our steps so that we could not walk in our streets. Our end came near. Our days were finished, for our end had come.
19 Those who came after us were faster than the eagles of the sky. They came after us on the mountains. They hid and waited for us in the desert.
20 The Lord's chosen one, our very breath, was caught in their traps. We had said about him, "Under his shadow we will live among the nations."
21 Be filled with joy and be glad, O people of Edom, who live in the land of Uz. But the cup will be passed to you also. You will become drunk and your shame will be seen.
22 The punishment of your sin is completed, O people of Zion. The Lord will not keep you away any longer. But He will punish your sin, Edom. He will let your sins be seen!
The New Life Version (NLV)
The New Life Version (NLV) is a unique English translation of the Bible designed to be exceptionally easy to read and understand. First published in 1969, the NLV was created by Gleason Ledyard, a missionary and linguist, to make the Scriptures accessible to people who have limited English proficiency or are new to the language. Ledyard’s aim was to provide a Bible that even those with minimal education could read and comprehend, thus opening the door for a wider audience to engage with the biblical texts.
A defining characteristic of the New Life Version is its use of a limited vocabulary of about 850 basic English words, along with some necessary theological terms. This restricted vocabulary ensures that the language remains simple and straightforward, making the text accessible to young readers, new Christians, and those for whom English is a second language. The translators also avoided idiomatic expressions and complex sentence structures, further enhancing clarity and understanding. This makes the NLV a particularly valuable resource for educational and missionary work.
The NLV also emphasizes faithfulness to the original texts, despite its simplified language. The translation aims to maintain the integrity and message of the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts. By carefully choosing words that accurately convey the meaning of the original texts while ensuring simplicity, the NLV provides a balance between accessibility and fidelity. Additionally, the NLV includes explanatory footnotes and cross-references that help readers understand the context and deeper meanings of the passages, making it a useful tool for both personal study and group teaching.
However, the New Life Version is not without its critics. Some scholars and traditionalists argue that the limited vocabulary and simplified language can lead to a loss of nuance and depth found in the original texts. They suggest that the NLV’s focus on simplicity may sometimes oversimplify complex theological concepts. Despite these criticisms, the New Life Version remains a valuable translation for its intended audience, offering a clear and approachable rendition of the Bible that helps a wide range of readers engage with the Scriptures and grow in their faith.